With a career 170-120-1 regular-season record, Carroll started his head-coaching journey 30 years ago with the New York Jets. He lasted one season with Gang Green before being replaced. Carroll took over in New England for three seasons (1997-99) before moving to the college ranks, where he made USC into a power. In 2010, Carroll returned to the pros, taking over in Seattle, where he led the Seahawks for 14 seasons, which includes a Super Bowl XLVIII victory.
Carroll helped build a monster in Seattle, led by the famous “Legion of Boom” defense, and maintained a competitive club throughout his tenure. The Seahawks missed the playoffs only four times during Carroll’s reign.
After 14 seasons, Seattle decided to move on from Carroll, who took on an advisory role with the club but never lost the coaching itch.
The head coach’s “Always Compete” mantra will be embraced in Vegas, particularly with new minority owner Tom Brady helping guide the ship. Vegas now goes from a coach who took over with no experience to the oldest head coach in NFL history. Carroll will turn 74 years old on Sept. 15; the league’s previous oldest HC was Romeo Crennel, who was 73 years, 199 days old at the time of his last game as Texans interim coach during the 2020 season.
The AFC West is now loaded with experience — from Andy Reid to Sean Payton to Jim Harbaugh and now Carroll. Three have won at least one Super Bowl, and Harbaugh has taken a team to the biggest game. Carroll following Harbaugh to the AFC West after their battles in college (USC and Stanford) and in the NFC West (Seattle and San Francisco) sets up another round for the veteran coaches.
Carroll joins a Raiders club that hasn’t won a division title or a postseason game since 2002. Vegas has just two playoff berths over that span while churning through 11 full-time head coaches. After years of struggles, Carroll’s leadership and experience should boost play in the desert. However, there are significant roster concerns that he and new general manager John Spytek must tackle.
The first question is how Carroll will build out his staff, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Then, the more significant issue is finding a quarterback. Vegas holds the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. And, hey, his former Seahawks QB is set to be available (although things didn’t end great in Seattle, Russell Wilson and Carroll still have a relationship).
